health insurance

Garfield County wants Governor John Hickenlooper to intervene with the state's new health insurance rules. The county has some of the highest premiums in Colorado under new guidelines, which are part of the Affordable Care Act. The state agency in charge of the new rules recently visited communities around the state to explain why premiums are so high. But Garfield County officials remain unconvinced.

The bulk of the federal Affordable Care Act takes effect next year and local governments are preparing. The tri-county region that includes the Roaring Fork Valley picked up a grant that will help people navigate the new health care options. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports.

This story has been updated at 3:00 PM 5/22/13: scroll down to the end for the latest information.

Later today (Wednesday 5/22/13) the Colorado Division of Insurance will release the list of health insurance companies that want to be part of Colorado’s health exchange. So far 19 companies have applied to be included. The exchange is mandated by the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, that was signed into law three years ago. The act requires that everyone have health insurance starting January first of next year. The health insurance law survived a Supreme Court challenge and Republican efforts to repeal it. Now, it’s coming into force. Over the next several months we will be reporting on how the new law will affect you. We begin with an explanation of the health care exchange. Aspen Public Radio’s Roger Adams reports.